If I could describe our tour in one would, it would be 'unforgettable!'
Upon booking our trip to Rio, I knew I wanted to see the world famous favelas first-hand. Coming from the United States, so much of what I thought I knew of Rio's colorful, makeshift towns was based on Hollywood's fictionalizations and sensationalized headlines. This tour gave us the chance to cut through the noise and see for ourselves how these beautiful, fascinating communities actually work.
The tour requires you to wake up before dawn to meet your guide just west of Leblon. Understandably, this may make some visitors uneasy, but rest assured, you are in good hands!
Henry, our guide, has an amazingly warm personality and made us feel safe 100% of the time (recommendable!). The journey through the Vidigal Favela to the base of the Twin Brothers mountain hiking trail was special. The atmosphere and scenery were breathtaking. The hike was challenging, but manageable. The view of Rio from the top was better than any other view that we've had experienced. Sugar Loaf, Dona Marta, The Redeemer... they all pale in comparison.
After watching the sunrise, we headed down to Henry's personal house for breakfast and coffee. To our amazement, Henry has a far greater view from his rooftop dining table than most 5-Star hotels can offer from any of their suites (trust me...we checked). Again... everything else paled in comparison!
We then took a tour around the favela with Henry. We chatted with locals, paused for photos and learned about the people and stories that make Vidigal home for over 30k beautiful, welcoming people. In addition to our own photos, Henry captured some great shots of our journey -- far better than my own, which I sincerely appreciate after looking at my own amateur shots.
Many thanks, Henry - WE WILL CRETAINLY BE BACK!!! I recommend this tour to everyone!